Directed by: Benny
Safdie & Josh Safdie.
Written by: Ronald
Bronstein and Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie.
Starring: Adam Sandler (Howard
Ratner), Julia Fox (Julia), Kevin Garnett (Kevin Garnett), Idina Menzel
(Dinah), Jonathan Aranbayev (Eddie), Jacob Igielski (Beni), Noa Fisher
(Marcel), Paloma Elsesser (Kat), LaKeith Stanfield (Demany), Eric Bogosian
(Arno), Keith Williams Richards (Phil), Tommy Kominik (Nico), Louis Anthony
Arias (Buddy), Judd Hirsch (Gooey), Benjy Kleiner (Aaron), Josh Ostrovsky
(Noah), Sahar Bibiyan (Ida), Lana Levitin (Ruth), The Weeknd (The Weeknd), Pom
Klementieff (Lexus), Jake Ryan (Actor).
Watching
Uncut Gems is a deliberately anxiety inducing experience. Watching the film, I
was even more convinced than I was by the Safdie brothers last film, the
mesmerizing and brilliant Good Time, that the filmmakers were trying to give me
a heart attack. The film is propulsive, kinetic, filmmaking from beginning to
end – the type of film that doesn’t slow down for second, just goes from one
brilliant, tense set piece to another without coming up for air. I assume the
film will turn a lot of people off – it is loud and brash and bold, and I don’t
think there is one likable character in the entire film (maybe NBA star Kevin
Garnett, playing himself). It is a dazzling high wire act that runs over two
hours and never lets you breath.
If I was
surprised by how great Robert Pattinson was in Good Time (seriously, he should
have won an Oscar for that performance) I am even more surprised that Adam
Sandler so brilliantly carries Uncut Gems. This isn’t because Sandler hasn’t
been great in other movies – as much as he normally just coasts on his charm,
his silly voices, etc. – when Sandler digs in to a performance – he can be
great. Uncut Gems belongs on a list with Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk
Love in many ways for Sandler – as both movies essentially have Sandler play
extreme versions of his normal screen persona – but just take it to extremes.
Sandler often plays self-absorbed psychopaths – but they are wrapped up in that
charm, disguised by those voices, so you don’t quite understand what
narcissistic monsters he’s really playing (does Sandler know? I have no idea).
Punch-Drunk Love had Sandler embrace the anti-social side of his characters –
the wounded child, prone to violent outbursts because he is so beat down by
life. Uncut Gems goes the other way – and has Sandler full embrace his brash,
obnoxious, over-the-top side. It’s one of those performances you see, and could
never imagine anyone else playing it.
Sandler
is Howard Ratner – a diamond dealer in New York, with a store full of jewels –
which should mean money – but that disguises just how desperate he is. He owes
money all over town – various bookies, gangsters, pawn brokers, etc. are constantly
wondering where their money is – and Howard always has an answer for them,
although its never one they want to hear. Howard is constantly on the move –
constantly going from one place to the next in an attempt to get money, make
deals, place bets, etc. Howard is the type of guy who always has 10 scams on
the go. But now his whole world is closing in around him. His wife (Idina
Menzel) is going to leave him, his girlfriend (Julia Fox) may not be as loyal
as she seems – and people are no longer buying his excuses, willing to lend him
anything more.
He has
what he considers a fool proof plan though. He has imported an Ethiopian Black
Opal in, and is convinced he will be able to auction it off for over a $1
million – making a huge profit for himself. He shows the opal to Kevin Garnett
– brought in by his friend (LaKeith Stanfield) – and Garnett becomes obsessed
with the stone. He convinces Howard to lend him the stone – he’s in the
playoffs against the 76ers – and needs the luck (this is 2012, perhaps for no
other reason than because it allows the Safdies to use Garnett, now retired).
Garnett even gives Howard his NBA championship ring as collateral (which
Howard, of course, immediately pawns to place more bets).
The Safdies
never lets Howard slow down – have a moment of peace. Even things like Passover
dinner with his family is fraught with tension – even danger, or attending his daughters
school play ends with Howard naked in the trunk of his car, etc. Howard’s world
is constantly turned up to 11. And the movie suggests that the way he wants it
to be. Howard doesn’t seem desperate to get out from under his debts – to get
everyone off his back. He’s enjoying every minute of the drama, of the pure adrenaline
rush of his existence. It’s the end of the world as he knows it, and he feels
fine.
Uncut
Gems is a masterpiece of filmmaking by the Safdies – who find the perfect style
to capture Howard’s non-stop sprint to the bottom. It confirms the Safdies
status as the most energetic filmmakers around – giving you a propulsive,
anxiety inducting trip to hell and back, smiling all the time. One of the very
best films of the year.
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